Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[harmless]

I get all of that. Remember There is also Getaway, and if you think like me that the song Lightning Bolt is mother natured themed. That is 25 percent of the whole. MYM is pretty heavy handed in a good way. I also think Ed is older and wiser in a way 15 years ago he would have been pissed about what is going on in the world, and now he is just really hurt.

Maybe. I certainly think that this album contains more of that than Backspacer did. Backspacer eventually seemed bland to me because there was so little of this engagement for me. I like plenty of the songs, but yeah.

[Heathen]

We would have ruined every part of that and every other great PJ album no doubt...

I think that's nonsense.

i don't. Well, ruined may be too strong a word but I think a lot of people consistently underestimate the way the mass psychology of groups can impact the individual preferences and perceptions within them. Corduroy suddenly doesn't suck, but any little part of a song that someone might have had a problem with that was glossed over or relegated to an afterthought is suddenly hammered home ad infinitum and impacts in subtle (or in some cases not so subtle) ways your perceptions of the song--especially during that early period where you're first trying to decide for yourself what you think about them.


And yes yes, I know that somehow every poster here is immune to these effects and that the normal ways human beings process information and develop opinions about things somehow doesn't apply to the people of RM.

Do you like the new stuff so much because you are indeed immune to the effects of the infamous overwhelming negativity of this board or because of some contrarian reaction to it?

[wilkins]

Three weeks out and no full leak, makes me think the 4 song leak was intentional by someone on the inside...

[ABNorman]

I've never really been bothered with Ed's "social justice" schtick. No Code has hardly any of it, and all my favourite songs tend to be more personal than railing about the world. I guess that's because I'm mostly content with life. It may also be why I enjoy simple songs like Wishlist, Thin Air and Just Breathe.

If anything, I feel that most of the time, Ed's too heavy handed when he decides to tackle issues. Even Flow, Do the Evolution and WMA are great songs, but very on the nose.

[harmless]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

[stupidmop]

It's like you stuck with your significant other through what the rest of the world thought was an awkward "OH MY GOD SHE'S WEARING GLASSES AND OVERALLS GROSS!" phase because you realized she was actually amazing and beautiful, only for her to decide once people started saying "hey, there's a pretty special girl underneath all of that who we used to be into" that and for her to throw away all of the things that made her so special to play up all of the superficial qualities that you thought she outgrew over a decade ago. And now that all of those people have come back around and have interest again, you have to sit through accusations of shit like "You only like No Code cause you're a hipster" or "If Backspacer and Yield switched places you hate Yield and love Backspacer." It's insane.

Ah, fuck. None of this probably makes any sense.

It'll be pretty cool if this new album is really good.

I only got to see a picture of this girl, went down to meet her and met but a shadow of her former self.

That said someone leak the last tracks so I know where I stand on this album you fucks.

[Mirella]

So is there anyone who likes all 6-7 tracks we've heard so far? I keep reading people saying this album is going to be great but I don't feel it with less than half I've heard doing anything for me.

If it counts: I like or love all songs of the new album. The only one that needs more than 1 listen to know, is My Father's Son. I liked the music but was not sure about the lyrics yet.

groetjes,
Mirella

[Huell]

Uh how have u heard the whole album? It hasn't leaked yet

[LetMeSleep]

So is there anyone who likes all 6-7 tracks we've heard so far? I keep reading people saying this album is going to be great but I don't feel it with less than half I've heard doing anything for me.

If it counts: I like or love all songs of the new album. The only one that needs more than 1 listen to know, is My Father's Son. I liked the music but was not sure about the lyrics yet.

groetjes,
Mirella

Of course it counts. You're one of the lucky few who have heard the complete album. I hope to be changing my opinion in the coming months.

Spoiler: show

I'm not that hopeful though.

[ABNorman]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

I don't think it's as clear cut as that, because so far MYM and Getaway are both outwardly engaging (and both attempt to place that engagement within a personal context - something PJ's great songs have mostly managed to do).

Maybe what you're missing is the driving force of youthful anger? Instead of getting angry, Ed tends to get wry these days. I prefer wry - it comes across as less self-serious. But I agree, I hopped onto the Pearl Jam train because of their earnestness, and some of that has been lost. But there's so many other bands out there that I can get my fix for that stuff elsewhere.

Nico Vega is scratching my "railing anger" itch at the moment. And Tom Waits knocked it out of the park with "Hell Broke Luce", probably the most harrowing song I've ever listened to.

A new album by Pearl Jam is like a comfy jumper. I know it's going to fit nicely, though it may have an ugly design I don't like, and others might find it a bit silly, and it's not quite the same as the hand-knitted jumpers mum used to make at Christmas. And sometimes, there'll be a little detail that I really like.

I have NO idea what I'm trying to say. Ramblerambleramble.

[ABNorman]

Uh how have u heard the whole album? It hasn't leaked yet

Mirella and others attended the listening parties.

Great name, by the way. I hope you're not still waiting in that hotel room.

[Mirella]

We usually have a lot of rumblings and whispers of euro tours long before they're announced.
I'd love if that was it but I'm doubtful it's that. Usually around Christmas I think they announce for summer euro tours

Yeah, but One Direction had a big announcement last week and that was for a June 2014 tour .

groetjes,
Mirella

[stip]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

Even the personal happiness songs are written against backdrops of death and loss and decline. They aren't replacing political songs since, as was just said, records like No Code barely have it (really just Habit--hardly an anchoring track on that album). it is the same inward looking (in terms of the themes, not the music--an important distinction I think) stuff that dominated No Code and is probably the majority of songs on every other record except MAYBE Riot Act and S/T. The songs like Mind Your Manners and Getaway have always been in the minority. They feel more prevalent if you can draw a line between those songs and the others--as if the outward turmoil is inspiring the inner mood--but the inner mood pieces dominate, and basically always have.

Thus far we know the following:

Getaway--a song that seems to be about how religious orthodoxy stifles both personal beliefs and engagement with the outside world

MYM--Same

My Father's son--we don't know

Sirens--about the fear of losing someone in an uncertain world

Lighting Bolt--finding inspiration/alternatives rooted in THIS world (note all the images about nature, seeds, etc). Perhaps not overtly about religion as getaway and MYM, but with those songs on the record it makes sense to read that into it.

Infallible--we don't know

Pendulum--we don't know

Swallowed Whole--see lightning bolt and MYM (but the flip side of it). Swallowed Whole is perhaps the 'we could something else' laid out in the back half of the record

LTRP--as you've called it, the dance party at the end of the world. As daft twat pointed out there are elements of ritual, religious overtones (subtle, but there), and a sense of collapse and decline. Maybe this is the same bar insignificance takes place in but this is the guy who doesn't join in.

Sleeping By Myself--love song about loss. Likely the outlier track if there is one.

Yellow Moon--we don't know

Future Days--I think you've looked more closely at this one than I have, but it seems of a piece with sirens--just as immediate, but with broader triggers. If the fear of loss is set off by something close to home in Sirens (localized violence, failing health, whatever it is what sets the subject off is the immediate sound) Future Days seems to be at least in part animated by a fear of the world his loved ones inhabit. But in both songs the fear goes away, or, maybe better, it is overcome. And this is important. It's also part of the something else in Mind Your Manners (and that could very well end up being one of the most essential lyrics on the record). If we have to save ourselves there needs to be something here worth saving.

We're still missing 5 songs. We'll see if this plays out. I'm describing a picture being revealed to me one piece at a time. The missing pieces could change what we have--we're in the same boat we were watching the artwork reveals--or I could have just gotten this all wrong to begin with, but I think this album is telling a story you would want it to tell, even if it is not always in broad or obvious strokes. I think it'll make for a better story in the end that way.

[dimejinky99]

I have phantom on all day anyways so ill report back once I find out what the announcement is.

I'm thinking its probably just a competition to attend the townhall gig/playback thing.
Which I wouldn't mind winning:)

[harmless]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

Even the personal happiness songs are written against backdrops of death and loss and decline. They aren't replacing political songs since, as was just said, records like No Code barely have it (really just Habit--hardly an anchoring track on that album). it is the same inward looking (in terms of the themes, not the music--an important distinction I think) stuff that dominated No Code and is probably the majority of songs on every other record except MAYBE Riot Act and S/T. The songs like Mind Your Manners and Getaway have always been in the minority. They feel more prevalent if you can draw a line between those songs and the others--as if the outward turmoil is inspiring the inner mood--but the inner mood pieces dominate, and basically always have.

Thus far we know the following:

Getaway--a song that seems to be about how religious orthodoxy stifles both personal beliefs and engagement with the outside world

MYM--Same

My Father's son--we don't know

Sirens--about the fear of losing someone in an uncertain world

Lighting Bolt--finding inspiration/alternatives rooted in THIS world (note all the images about nature, seeds, etc). Perhaps not overtly about religion as getaway and MYM, but with those songs on the record it makes sense to read that into it.

Infallible--we don't know

Pendulum--we don't know

Swallowed Whole--see lightning bolt and MYM (but the flip side of it). Swallowed Whole is perhaps the 'we could something else' laid out in the back half of the record

LTRP--as you've called it, the dance party at the end of the world. As daft twat pointed out there are elements of ritual, religious overtones (subtle, but there), and a sense of collapse and decline. Maybe this is the same bar insignificance takes place in but this is the guy who doesn't join in.

Sleeping By Myself--love song about loss. Likely the outlier track if there is one.

Yellow Moon--we don't know

Future Days--I think you've looked more closely at this one than I have, but it seems of a piece with sirens--just as immediate, but with broader triggers. If the fear of loss is set off by something close to home in Sirens (localized violence, failing health, whatever it is what sets the subject off is the immediate sound) Future Days seems to be at least in part animated by a fear of the world his loved ones inhabit. But in both songs the fear goes away, or, maybe better, it is overcome. And this is important. It's also part of the something else in Mind Your Manners (and that could very well end up being one of the most essential lyrics on the record). If we have to save ourselves there needs to be something here worth saving.

We're still missing 5 songs. We'll see if this plays out. I'm describing a picture being revealed to me one piece at a time. The missing pieces could change what we have--we're in the same boat we were watching the artwork reveals--or I could have just gotten this all wrong to begin with, but I think this album is telling a story you would want it to tell, even if it is not always in broad or obvious strokes. I think it'll make for a better story in the end that way.

Yup, good post. I agree with all this.

[Mirella]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, who is about to buy 37 Joint Strike Fighters for this small country, is pretty active on the social media, and yesterday he posted an Eddie Vedder song on his Facebook wall, telling his followers how much he likes it. It then struck me that I could not really counter this with some new anti war song or something. I replied anyway, of course, with Sirens and some more PJ/EV content, and decided not to pollute that thread with politics... Other people did. It's a strange world we live in.

groetjes,
Mirella

[harmless]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, who is about to buy 37 Joint Strike Fighters for this small country, is pretty active on the social media, and yesterday he posted an Eddie Vedder song on his Facebook wall, telling his followers how much he likes it. It then struck me that I could not really counter this with some new anti war song or something. I replied anyway, of course, with Sirens and some more PJ/EV content, and decided not to pollute that thread with politics... Other people did. It's a strange world we live in.

groetjes,
Mirella

Non-violent resistance, eh?

[Mirella]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, who is about to buy 37 Joint Strike Fighters for this small country, is pretty active on the social media, and yesterday he posted an Eddie Vedder song on his Facebook wall, telling his followers how much he likes it. It then struck me that I could not really counter this with some new anti war song or something. I replied anyway, of course, with Sirens and some more PJ/EV content, and decided not to pollute that thread with politics... Other people did. It's a strange world we live in.

groetjes,
Mirella

Non-violent resistance, eh?

[stip]

We would have ruined every part of that and every other great PJ album no doubt...

I think that's nonsense.

i don't. Well, ruined may be too strong a word but I think a lot of people consistently underestimate the way the mass psychology of groups can impact the individual preferences and perceptions within them. Corduroy suddenly doesn't suck, but any little part of a song that someone might have had a problem with that was glossed over or relegated to an afterthought is suddenly hammered home ad infinitum and impacts in subtle (or in some cases not so subtle) ways your perceptions of the song--especially during that early period where you're first trying to decide for yourself what you think about them.


And yes yes, I know that somehow every poster here is immune to these effects and that the normal ways human beings process information and develop opinions about things somehow doesn't apply to the people of RM.

Do you like the new stuff so much because you are indeed immune to the effects of the infamous overwhelming negativity of this board or because of some contrarian reaction to it?

I like the new stuff because I think they're good songs.

Having said that, I'm not immune to the effects of the context in which I develop my opinions. No one is. It's not like this stuff is a brick wall you just smack into and your opinion is immediately changed. But certainly I am more inclined to second guess some things if there is a broad backlash against something. On the positive side I may very well have stuck with Sirens because of the positive comments.

My point is that the reactions (positive or negative) will shape how you come to think about these songs in subtle ways. If you're not sure how you feel about something excessive discussion of its strengths or weaknesses is likely to shape how you perceive it. And if it is music or art that takes you some time to get a handle on the these conversations will have a greater impact on you. But this is impacting all of us to a greater or lesser degree. The stronger your immediate reaction to something the less prominent this may be. If I was here for Riot Act or Binaural I think I would have been influenced more because I wasn't nearly as sure about how I felt about those albums.

Another positive example--the very positive reaction Getaway has gotten (quite possibly at the bottom of the new songs for me--FD excluded) has probably either kept me more open minded about the song or, with parts I'm iffy about, pushed me over into the 'it's good' camp. Not that I sat down and said 'RM likes this so it must be good and i'll like it too.' It's more subtle than that. I am not even aware that it's happening (well I probably am after the fact, since i'm talking about it but only because I spend time thinking about thinking)

Again, it's subtle. I am having such a positive reaction to these songs because I really like them. But I may like two of them even more because of the board reaction. Since I am inclined to like them a negative reaction may not make me like them less, but a positive reaction may make me like them more (see, perhaps, getaway and sirens). If I was inclined to be skeptical of them a positive reaction might not mean much (it might alienate me further, but a negative reaction will activate all sorts of confirmation biases and harden inchoate opinions prematurely--before I have a chance to really decide this for myself.


This is not the same thing as being overtly influenced by a discussion (everyone loves in the moonlight so maybe I should check it out again) or by specific people. Badmusic doesn't like pearl jam anymore so what he thinks about the songs is largely irrelevant in my own assessment. If chud just posts these songs suck or Verb To Trust dismisses the entire record without hearing it (even though he is positive he'll go into an album he's written off with an open mind) then their thoughts will be irrelevant to me. That's posting as posturing, and it can be funny, or annoying, or ignored,but it doesn't have an impact (it might if I didn't know the background) But if someone like Kevin Davis or you or DcT or Platy or Lament or Juvenal or Iceagecoming or Thejambi or McP --people who usually post interesting and thoughtful things or whose tastes often mirror my own (sorry to the many people I left off that list--I gotta stop naming people at some point) I am likely to pay close attention and go back and consciously revisit how I hear certain things. My thoughts may change or they may not change, but I'm still ALLOWING myself to be influenced in a specific way. But that's different than the subtle stuff described above. That can't be controlled. It's a background process that impacts everyone.

I hope that makes sense. I don't do my best thinking with a fussy baby in my lap

[stip]

I've never been incredibly content with anything, and I think outward engagement is crucial, especially if you set a precedent for it, like Ed has. But personal happiness isn't really the point of Pearl Jam and never was until quite recently; I think Ed's spent much of his time railing against injustice, and whatever you think of the songs (I love most of them) it was supposed to be more than entertainment. If all of his stuff now ends up being about cosying up with family life and ignoring the outside world, I don't know. Maybe I'll eventually wish this album was darker. I was arguing against someone (can't remember who) about the artwork not matching the songs, and although I can make it match the songs if I use words like "inadvertent", "symbolic" and "subtle", I sort of understand the complaint.

The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, who is about to buy 37 Joint Strike Fighters for this small country, is pretty active on the social media, and yesterday he posted an Eddie Vedder song on his Facebook wall, telling his followers how much he likes it. It then struck me that I could not really counter this with some new anti war song or something. I replied anyway, of course, with Sirens and some more PJ/EV content, and decided not to pollute that thread with politics... Other people did. It's a strange world we live in.

groetjes,
Mirella

what song?

Also, if you had posted No More you would have lost the argument so maybe it's better you said nothing